In "Bel and the Serpent," Ruth May dies due to a snake bite. Much of this is taken in numb shock by the girls of the Price family. In the beginning of the book, Orleanna Price berates herself for being at fault for Ruth May's death. But after some thought and discussion, I believe that Leah Price is more at fault for Ruth May's death.
Ruth May was bitten by a green mamba, which was planted in the Price's chicken house by Tata Kuvudundu, the village witch doctor.
In the beginning of Bel and the Serpent, Leah wanted to participate in an annual village ceremony as a hunter and not in the traditional woman's role. After a long debate and a final vote, Leah is alllowed to join the men in the annual hunt. By doing so, Leah broke many rules of the village tradition and religion. Also in the vote outcome, Leah visibly angered Tat Kuvudundu. Rachel says, "Man alive, Tat Kuvudundu was not one bit happy then. He stood up and hollered that we'd turned over the natural way of things and boy, would we be sorry" (338). It was the first time any woman had joined the hunting process of the annual event, and it was completely against tradition. When Tata Kuvudundu didn't get what he wanted, he threatened, "The leopards will walk upright like men on our paths. The snakes will come out of the ground and seek our houses instead of their own. Bwe? You did this. You decided the old ways are no good. You want to change everything, and now, kuleka? No one will sleep!" (339).To win the village's opinion back in favor of him, or just for revenge against Leah, Tata Kuvudundu planted the green mamba in the Price's chicken house. When it was discovered, it bit Ruth May, causing her death.
Another reason Leah was more to blame than Orleanna, is how she didn't run to get milk and help to try to save Ruth May. She recalls, " 'Midiki!' [Nelson] screamed at me. 'Get milk. Get Mama Nguza, she will know what to do. Kakakaka, go!' But I found I could not move" (364). Because of Leah's shock, she didn't get help to try to save Ruth May, and thus is yet more to blame.
- Chelaine
In The Poisonwood Bible, out of all the members in the Price family, I feel Nathan has made the least growth. From when he first set foot in the Congo to now, there has not been much change. He is still the controlling, abusive man who came to the Congo for one mission, and will not leave until that mission is complete. While the other members of the Price family have incorporated Congolese cultures into their daily habits and ideas, Nathan is still stubbornly holding on to his beliefs. Nathan's views of the world have remained the same, but the world's view of Nathan has become drastically different. Leah, who used to adore and admire her father, now sees him as "a simple, ugly man" (368). She is now able to see the true colors of Nathan Price. For some reason, Nathan just refuses, or can't open up his eyes to see the changing world around him. He is so stuck and set on his one frame of mind that anything out-of-the-ordinary is immediately ignored. The will of God drives him on but it also blinds him. By focusing too greatly on the one culture he knows, he is unable to see the beauty of other cultures. While all the other characters will grow and move on, Nathan will forever be bound by his chains of religion.
Ruth May was bitten by a green mamba, which was planted in the Price's chicken house by Tata Kuvudundu, the village witch doctor.
In the beginning of Bel and the Serpent, Leah wanted to participate in an annual village ceremony as a hunter and not in the traditional woman's role. After a long debate and a final vote, Leah is alllowed to join the men in the annual hunt. By doing so, Leah broke many rules of the village tradition and religion. Also in the vote outcome, Leah visibly angered Tat Kuvudundu. Rachel says, "Man alive, Tat Kuvudundu was not one bit happy then. He stood up and hollered that we'd turned over the natural way of things and boy, would we be sorry" (338). It was the first time any woman had joined the hunting process of the annual event, and it was completely against tradition. When Tata Kuvudundu didn't get what he wanted, he threatened, "The leopards will walk upright like men on our paths. The snakes will come out of the ground and seek our houses instead of their own. Bwe? You did this. You decided the old ways are no good. You want to change everything, and now, kuleka? No one will sleep!" (339).To win the village's opinion back in favor of him, or just for revenge against Leah, Tata Kuvudundu planted the green mamba in the Price's chicken house. When it was discovered, it bit Ruth May, causing her death.
Another reason Leah was more to blame than Orleanna, is how she didn't run to get milk and help to try to save Ruth May. She recalls, " 'Midiki!' [Nelson] screamed at me. 'Get milk. Get Mama Nguza, she will know what to do. Kakakaka, go!' But I found I could not move" (364). Because of Leah's shock, she didn't get help to try to save Ruth May, and thus is yet more to blame.
- Chelaine
In The Poisonwood Bible, out of all the members in the Price family, I feel Nathan has made the least growth. From when he first set foot in the Congo to now, there has not been much change. He is still the controlling, abusive man who came to the Congo for one mission, and will not leave until that mission is complete. While the other members of the Price family have incorporated Congolese cultures into their daily habits and ideas, Nathan is still stubbornly holding on to his beliefs. Nathan's views of the world have remained the same, but the world's view of Nathan has become drastically different. Leah, who used to adore and admire her father, now sees him as "a simple, ugly man" (368). She is now able to see the true colors of Nathan Price. For some reason, Nathan just refuses, or can't open up his eyes to see the changing world around him. He is so stuck and set on his one frame of mind that anything out-of-the-ordinary is immediately ignored. The will of God drives him on but it also blinds him. By focusing too greatly on the one culture he knows, he is unable to see the beauty of other cultures. While all the other characters will grow and move on, Nathan will forever be bound by his chains of religion.
- Fanny